Wakefield MP calls on Government to save city post office

MP Mary Creagh has tabled a motion in parliament calling on the business secretary to intervene to prevent the franchising out of Wakefield city centre crown post office.

The Post Office announced the potential franchising of the branch in January, though no final decision has yet been made. A public consultation will run before franchising the branch.

Ms Creagh’s Early Day Motion (EDM) to the House of Commons points out that Wakefield is one of 42 branches around the country at risk of closure or franchising.

Replacing a dedicated post office with a counter in another retailer leaves customers who rely on post office services worse off.

Ms Creagh has also launched a petition on her website to save the crown post office and is calling on local residents to add their voices to the campaign.

She said: “The Northgate crown post office provides an important public service and is a key part of our community. The government needs to listen to the people in Wakefield - not just over individual changes, but the future of the Post Office itself. Local families and businesses rely on a full post office service and long-serving staff are seeing their jobs put at risk.”

Asghar Khan, political officer, CWU Leeds No1 Branch, said: “This is devastating news for many of our members, who have worked extremely hard to turn this company round. The whole of the CWU stands united behind our Crown office members, in defence of jobs and the future of the network – and to bring all of the People’s Post back together.”